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STDs (Expert Forum)
Bacterial Infection vs. STD (Herpes or HIV)
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
This forum does not cover AIDS/HIV issues. This forum is for questions and support regarding STD issues such as: Chlamydia, Crabs (pubic lice scabies), Gonorrhea, Hepatitis (viral), Herpes, HPV, Molluscum Contagiosum, PID, Rectal Infections, Syphilis, Trichomonas, Warts, Yeast Infection.
IMPORTANT
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
Bacterial Infection vs. STD (Herpes or HIV)
by mjpe, May 13, 2007 12:00AM
I am a faithful, late 20s, heterosexual male.
In early April, much to our surprise, my fiancé tested positively for Chlamydia. As far as I know, we are both faithful and only engage in unprotected vaginal sex. We do not engage in anal sex and usually I only do oral on her.
We both took antibiotics (I did this for precautionary reasons), but later I received a negative Chlamydia test result. Up until that point, I never dreamed of having an STD.
In late April 2007, I developed a rash on the cheeks of my face that seemed to start from a pimple near my mouth. I used over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream and the rash seemed to go away. Then, a dog licked me during our house search and I broke out in a violent allergic reaction (I have a history of bad allergies to dogs, dander, cats, some foods, dust, etc.). I had blotches all over my neck and face.
That night, however, my rash and allergic reaction seemed to go away so I shaved. The next day, the rash broke out all over my face including my neck. It looked like a densely packed patch of acne with whiteheads.
I went to the Emergency Room on May 1st and the nurse who first saw me thought it was Herpes, which absolutely freaked me out.
However, the first doctor who saw me thought it was only a bacterial infection.
Because I had received two very different assessments, I asked that the head-doctor-on-call look at me who also said it was a bacterial infection and nothing worse than that (i.e. neither HIV nor Herpes).
To calm me down, the head-doctor-on-call performed a Herpes culture exam, which two days later returned negative results.
The doctor prescribed Bactroban ointment and Cephalexin 250 mg tablets. Using both of these antibiotics, my rash cleared up in two days and was completely unnoticeable in 3 days. I continued taking the medication until completion to ensure the infection does not return.
The doctor said the reason the infection spread so badly is I shaved before I had completely healed and this spread the infection across my face. She also said I had a vitamin deficiency and needed to improve my diet and worry less about work.
After my night at the Emergency Room, I took a Rapid Test HIV exam at a local center, which came back negative.
Can I safely assume this is over? I am confident that my fiancé is faithful but the positive Chlamydia test was a surprise.
The only other “symptom” that I have is a scratchy throat right now, but I think this is largely derivative of my allergies and the fact that this is the spring. I have had a couple of nights of "sweats" but I was using a heavy blanket at the time and that seemed to be the reason why this happened. After using a lighter blanket, my "sweats" went away.
I do NOT have any of the following symptoms rapid weight loss, diarrhea, hair loss, thrush, loss of appetite, etc.
Please let me know what you think. I am hoping to hear a positive 3rd opinion that reaffirms the assessments of the two doctors. Thank you for your time.
In early April, much to our surprise, my fiancé tested positively for Chlamydia. As far as I know, we are both faithful and only engage in unprotected vaginal sex. We do not engage in anal sex and usually I only do oral on her.
We both took antibiotics (I did this for precautionary reasons), but later I received a negative Chlamydia test result. Up until that point, I never dreamed of having an STD.
In late April 2007, I developed a rash on the cheeks of my face that seemed to start from a pimple near my mouth. I used over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream and the rash seemed to go away. Then, a dog licked me during our house search and I broke out in a violent allergic reaction (I have a history of bad allergies to dogs, dander, cats, some foods, dust, etc.). I had blotches all over my neck and face.
That night, however, my rash and allergic reaction seemed to go away so I shaved. The next day, the rash broke out all over my face including my neck. It looked like a densely packed patch of acne with whiteheads.
I went to the Emergency Room on May 1st and the nurse who first saw me thought it was Herpes, which absolutely freaked me out.
However, the first doctor who saw me thought it was only a bacterial infection.
Because I had received two very different assessments, I asked that the head-doctor-on-call look at me who also said it was a bacterial infection and nothing worse than that (i.e. neither HIV nor Herpes).
To calm me down, the head-doctor-on-call performed a Herpes culture exam, which two days later returned negative results.
The doctor prescribed Bactroban ointment and Cephalexin 250 mg tablets. Using both of these antibiotics, my rash cleared up in two days and was completely unnoticeable in 3 days. I continued taking the medication until completion to ensure the infection does not return.
The doctor said the reason the infection spread so badly is I shaved before I had completely healed and this spread the infection across my face. She also said I had a vitamin deficiency and needed to improve my diet and worry less about work.
After my night at the Emergency Room, I took a Rapid Test HIV exam at a local center, which came back negative.
Can I safely assume this is over? I am confident that my fiancé is faithful but the positive Chlamydia test was a surprise.
The only other “symptom” that I have is a scratchy throat right now, but I think this is largely derivative of my allergies and the fact that this is the spring. I have had a couple of nights of "sweats" but I was using a heavy blanket at the time and that seemed to be the reason why this happened. After using a lighter blanket, my "sweats" went away.
I do NOT have any of the following symptoms rapid weight loss, diarrhea, hair loss, thrush, loss of appetite, etc.
Please let me know what you think. I am hoping to hear a positive 3rd opinion that reaffirms the assessments of the two doctors. Thank you for your time.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., May 13, 2007 12:00AM
, May 13, 2007 12:00AM
The description of your facial rash doesn't sound like herpes; both the location and the nature of the outbreak are much more consistent with bacterial folliculitis or something similar, probably due to staph or strep. Spread of such infections by shaving is typical. The individual skin lesions can appear similar to herpes, which probably influenced the first doc's knee-jerk reaction. Most likely the second doc was more experienced (maybe they were intern and resident, respectively?).
There is no obvious reason to suspect any connection whatever with the chlamydia. Your respiratory and sweathing symptoms are not at all suggestive of HIV, and clearly there is nothing here to suggest high risk for HIV, despite your partner's chlamydial infection.
You can judge the truthfulness of your partner's assertion of no other recent sex partners, and your own truthfulness in that; I cannot. But if chlamydia can be carried for months, rarely up to a few years, especially in women, and if you are confident in your fidelity and hers, the infection undoubtedly dates back to some past partnership. Chlamydia always clears up on its own, eventually--so despite your negative test, you could have been the source of your partner's infection, even though your test was negative. Or vice versa. You will never know which was which, and it doesn't matter.
Bottom line (no pun intended): All is well and likely no harm has been done. Best wishes--
HHH, MD
There is no obvious reason to suspect any connection whatever with the chlamydia. Your respiratory and sweathing symptoms are not at all suggestive of HIV, and clearly there is nothing here to suggest high risk for HIV, despite your partner's chlamydial infection.
You can judge the truthfulness of your partner's assertion of no other recent sex partners, and your own truthfulness in that; I cannot. But if chlamydia can be carried for months, rarely up to a few years, especially in women, and if you are confident in your fidelity and hers, the infection undoubtedly dates back to some past partnership. Chlamydia always clears up on its own, eventually--so despite your negative test, you could have been the source of your partner's infection, even though your test was negative. Or vice versa. You will never know which was which, and it doesn't matter.
Bottom line (no pun intended): All is well and likely no harm has been done. Best wishes--
HHH, MD
HHH, MD
What is the likely cause of bacterial folliculitis? Is it contagious?
My fiance and I did not kiss for a while after the break-out and are only now returning to "business as usual". So I think she would be low-risk for it anyway but just curious.
The doctors said stress and a poor diet could have caused this in conjunction with the dog that licked me possibly having some bacterial infection. Does that sound correct to you?
If some of these medical conclusions do not make sense, I apologize - they were explained to me at 3AM on a weeknight after a several-hour wait.
The doctors were very confident, though, that this was nothing more than a bacterial infection. It was the nurse who originally said Herpes.
Given the doctors' opinions and my negative test results as well as your opinion, I guess I should feel pretty good about all of this.
Thanks again for your time.
"The doctors were very confident, though, that this was nothing more than a bacterial infection. It was the nurse who originally said Herpes. Given the doctors' opinions and my negative test results as well as your opinion, I guess I should feel pretty good about all of this."
Yup, exactly. Complete the antibiotic therapy then forget the whole thing. This sort of infection happens to everybody from time to time. It's nothing.